Bridge-gate



(No Model.) F W MASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1L BRIDGE GATE. No. 558,192. Patented Apr. 14,1896.

3 Sheets-Sheet {No Model.)

P. W. MASH.

BRIDGE GATE.

Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

N \N h A h mung menu-4AM. mom-mmmsum BTW-W 3 Sheets-Sheet :3. F.W. MASH.

BRIDGE GATE.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK WV. MASE, OF OSHKOSH, VVISGONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AUGUST F. MASE, OF MILWAUKEE, WVISOONSIN.

BRIDGE-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 558,192, dated April 14, 1896. Application filed November 29, 1896. serial NOI570A34. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK W. MAsE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-T.

Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description tion consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combinations of parts herein after set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed, said drawings illustrating a mechanical assemblage that may be variously modified without departure from the aforesaid invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a View on the plane indicated by line 1 1 in the succeeding figure; Fig. 2, a plan View, with cer tain of the parts in horizontal section, illustrating the arrangement of gear mechanism for operating the bridge-gates; Fig. 3, an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a gated bridge approach; Fig. 4, a detail partly-sectional view of a cam-controlled wing-operating mechanism embodied in the present showing of my invention, the view being on the plane indicated by line 4. 4 of the preceding figure; Fig. 5, anotherdetail view illustrating an adjustable bearing-plate that is also embodied in the present showing of my inven tion; Fig. 6, a detail partly-sectional View illustrating a worm-sector that constitutes part of the bridge-gate gear mechanism herein set forth, and Figs. 7 and S are sectional views respectively taken on lines 7 7 and 8 8 of Fig. 1. V

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents the center pier of a pivotal swingbridge 13, that may be1 operated by any suitable power, none, however, being shown, as the means for swinging the bridge constitutes no part of my present invention, the latter being confined to gates and means for bringing them in and out of working position without dependence on movement of said bridge.

As herein shown, the bridge may be provided with hangers b for longitudinal shafts 0-1), as well as other hangers c for similar shafts E F, parallel to those aforesaid, and a clutch-section (1, controlled by a spanner e, is splined on the outer end of each of the aforesaid shafts. Transverse rock shafts G in hangers f connect the spanners cin pairs, and one spanner of each pair is joined by a linkrod H witha lever H, fulcrumed on a timber I of the bridge to extend up through the latter, this arrangement of these parts being such that an action of said lever will throw all of the clutch-sections in one direction or the other.

Each clutch-section cl is engageable with another clutch-section g on a horizontal spindle J, supported in hangers h within an abutment of the bridge, and a bevel-gear pinion t'yfast on the spindle, meshes with a similar pinion j, fast on a vertical shaft K, that turns in bearings on a post L, and with said spindle constitutes part of a gate-operating mechanism hereinafter specified.

Supported in hangers m is a transverse shaft M in bevel-gear connection with shaft 0, and another shaft N, supported in hangers n, is geared to the ones M F, whereby motion imparted to said shaft 0 is transmitted to the i one F, the gear being such that both. these last-named shafts rotate in the same direction when the power is applied. Another trans verse shaft P, supported in hangers 10, is geared to the shafts D E, in order that the two latter shafts may have a similar rotation when power. is applied to the first of the same. The arrangement of the geared shafting is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and this showing constitutes one possible way of transmitting power to cause a simultaneous operation of gate mechanism at diagonally opposite corners of the bridgeway.

Splined on the inner end of shaft 0 is abevelpinion r, and a similar pinion s is in like con- IOO oted to the timber I and extended up through the bridge, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The pinion r is actuated by the lever Q to come in or out of gear with a similar pinion t, fast on a vertical power-shaft S, and the operation of the lever B throws pinion s in and out of gear with a like pinion u, also fast on the power-shaft,the latter turning in bearings on the bridge.

If the lever Q is operated to cause meshing of pinions r t and the power-shaft S is rotated, the shafts O F will have corresponding rotation through the medium of the gearing above specified, and the clutch-sections d on the outer ends of the latter shafts being e11- gaged with opposing clutch-sections g on spindles J the gate-operating mechanisms at diagonally opposite corners of the bridgeway will be actuated. It also follows that if lever B be operated to cause meshing of pinions s a and the power-shaft is rotated the shafts D E will rotate together in the same direction, and the clutch-sections on the outer ends of these latter shafts being engaged with opposing clutch-sections on the remaining spindles J the gate-operating mechanisms at the other diagonally opposite corners of the bridgeway will be actuated.

From the foregoing it will be understood that while provision is made for effecting a simultaneous action of gate-operatin g mechanisms at diagonally opposite corners of the bridgeway, all of the gate-operating mechanisms may be operated at the same time, this being merely a matter of adjusting the levers Q B so as to transmit motion from the powershaft S to the other shafts O D E F when the latter are in clutch with the spindles J aforesaid.

As herein shown, each vertical shaft K is provided with a worm-head v in mesh with a worm-sector T 011 an arbor w,that has its bearing in the adjacent post L, the latter being longitudinally slotted to accommodate said worm-sector. Fast on one end of each arbor is a counterweighted gate U, that when swung down bars a sidewalk approach to the bridge, and fast on the other end of said arbor is another gate that swings down to bar one-half of a roadway approach to said bridge. The latter gate, as herein shown, is of somewhat peculiar and especial construction, inasmuch as provision is made for having it clear any trolley-wires or other overhead obstacles, and it comprises a counterweight-section V (this being the part that is fast on the arbor w) and a folding section or wing WV, the latter in its extended position being horizontal and serving as a barrier of approach to the bridge. The folding section V is in pivotal connection with the other section V of the roadway-gate, and a link 00 connects one end of said folding section with a pitman X, having a ring end y engaging an eccentric Y, having lugs 2 made fast to a plate Z by screws, although any other suitable means may be employed to effect this union. The plate Z is rigidly secured to a post L, but provision is made for the vertical adjustment of this plate, the same being longitudinally slotted and having its slots engaged the set bolts or screws .2, employed to secure it to the adjacent post. This being the case, the plate Z is also slotted where it is engaged by the worm-sector arbor '10, above specified. By having said plate adjustable longitudinally of the post the throw of the folding gate-section may be accurately determined.

The gate-section V is longitudinally slotted, the slot Z) being engaged by an antifrictionroller or stud c on the pitman X, this being necessary in order to obtain a differential movement on the part of said gate-section and pitman, whereby the link a: may operate to swing the folding gate-section on its pivot. The gates are normally swung up out of the way and the sections or wings WV of the roadway-gates laid parallel to the other sections V; but when said gates are brought into working position said folding sections are automatically swung to a horizontal position by the means above specified, although the necessary automatic adjustment of the aforesaid folding gate-sections may be attained in various ways.

In practice it is preferable to have the gates at diagonally opposite corners of the bridgeway brought to working position in order that the bridge may be cleared of traffic thereon while other traffic is excluded, after which the remaining gates are also brought to working position. The clutches being separated, the bridge is free to swing open. Upon return of the bridge to normal position the clutches are again united and all the gates swung up out of the way at the same time, the folding gate-sections WV being automatically turned down and in to clear trolley-wires or other overhead obstacles.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A horizontal arbor, suitable means for rotating the same, a bridge-gate comprising a section fast on the arbor and another section pivoted to the one aforesaid, a stationary eccentric, a pitman having motion on the eccentric, a projection on the pitman engaging a longitudinally-slotted portion of that section of the gate fast on said arbor, and a link connecting said pitman and pivotal section of the gate.

2. A horizontal arbor, suitable means for rotating the same, a bridge-gate comprising a section fast on the arbor and another section pivoted to the one aforesaid, a plate vertically adjustable on the arbor-support, an eccentric fast on the plate, a pitman having motion on the eccentric, a projection on the pitman engaging a longitudinally-slotted portion of that section of the gate fast 011 said arbor, and a link connecting said pitman and pivotal section of the gate.

3. A horizontal arbor, a worm-sector fast on the same, a worm-shaft in gear with said sector and suitable means for imparting rotation to the shaft, a bridge-gate comprising a section fast on the arbor and another section pivoted to the one aforesaid, a stationary eccentric, a pitman having motion on the eccentric, a projection on the pitman engaging a longitudinally-slotted portion of that section of the gate fast on said arbor, and a link connecting said pitman and pivotal section of the gate.

4. A swing-bridge provided with a powershaft, a series of longitudinal shafts suspended from the bridge and provided at their outer ends with splined clutch-sections, pinions splined on the inner ends of two of the longitudinal shafts, the power-shaft provided with pinions for the engagement of those aforesaid, suitable gearing for transmitting FREDERICK W. MASE. Witnesses:

J. H. MERRILL, WM. R. DOWLING. 

